France and the United States are revising their proposal for ending the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, and diplomats say the work is likely to delay a vote by the U.N. Security Council.
Differences between the two countries emerged after an Arab League delegation argued on Tuesday that the Security Council should call for both an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
Wednesday, French President Jacques Chirac said the United States is resisting some Arab proposals. He added that giving up on a cease-fire resolution would be immoral.
France is in favor of accommodating some Arab demands.
Also Wednesday, a senior Russian official said Moscow supports a Lebanese proposal to send 15,000 Lebanese troops to the border area with Israel.
Israel says it will only withdraw from Lebanon when a robust international force is in place.
In Beirut, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch met with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora Wednesday. After the meeting, Mr. Siniora told reporters there has been no progress on reaching a cease-fire.
At the United Nations, Qatar's foreign minister told the Security Council Tuesday that adoption of a non-enforceable resolution would have, in his words, "grave ramifications" throughout the region.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.